Teen home alone, man climbs in window

Published: Tuesday, December 10, 2013 at 05:12 PM.

A 16-year-old girl was home alone Tuesday morning when a man climbed into her house through a bedroom window, police said. Quick action from the teen got police there in time to catch the suspect.

Police arrested David Lee Smith, 57, of 534 Belfast Drive, Gastonia, a short time later. He was at the house when officers took him into custody, police said. The teen was at home on West Fifth Avenue, Gastonia, around 10 a.m. Tuesday when she heard a knock on the door.

The girl didn’t answer but told police she saw a man through the window. She told police the man also saw her inside the house.

Investigators say the man then went to the window of another child’s bedroom, took off the screen and climbed into the house. The teen took off. She ran to a neighbor’s house, where she called 911. No other children were in the home at the time.

A 16-year-old girl was home alone Tuesday morning when a man climbed into her house through a bedroom window, police said. Quick action from the teen got police there in time to catch the suspect.

Police arrested David Lee Smith, 57, of 534 Belfast Drive, Gastonia, a short time later. He was at the house when officers took him into custody, police said. The teen was at home on West Fifth Avenue, Gastonia, around 10 a.m. Tuesday when she heard a knock on the door.

The girl didn’t answer but told police she saw a man through the window. She told police the man also saw her inside the house.

Investigators say the man then went to the window of another child’s bedroom, took off the screen and climbed into the house. The teen took off. She ran to a neighbor’s house, where she called 911. No other children were in the home at the time.

Police say the 57-year-old suspect was still there when they arrived. According to arrest records, he refused to leave, attempting to shut the bedroom door and flee from officers. K-9 units were sent into the home to retrieve him. The dogs bit Smith, but not severely, police said.

He was treated by EMS. “EMS checked the wound out due to protocol, but it was only a scratch,” said Donna Lahser, Gastonia Police spokeswoman. “The bite didn’t tear the jeans material.”

Smith eventually emerged from the house and was apprehended. A neighbor told The Gazette news partner WSOC that Smith is a familiar sight for the neighborhood’s residents. He is known to wander the streets, said Cheri Arnold.

He faces charges of felony breaking and entering and misdemeanor resisting public officer. He was placed in Gaston County Jail on a $50,000 secured bond. Smith has more than 20 criminal convictions since 1973, including breaking and entering, larceny and forgery.

You can reach reporter Lauren Baheri at 704-869-1842 or Twitter.com/lbaheri.